What are the pros & cons of ditching my dsl and using a neighbors or coffeeshops wireless signal?
October 2, 2009 by DSL and Broadband Tips
Filed under DSL Q&A
Can you answer ayatollaofrockinrolla’s question about DSL?:
I live in a high density city neighborhood with a few “free wireless internet” coffee shops about 50 meters away. What are the pros & cons of ditching my dsl and using a neighbors or coffeeshops wireless signal? I could do without the $50 dsl bill every month if it’s possible!
DSL Internet Providers
I live in a high density city neighborhood with a few “free wireless internet” coffee shops about 50 meters away. What are the pros & cons of ditching my dsl and using a neighbors or coffeeshops wireless signal? I could do without the $50 dsl bill every month if it’s possible!
DSL Internet Providers
DSL Feedback: the pros are it’s free….the cons are, if you use a neighbors signal, then you eat into their allotted bandwidth and they get slower downloads and uploads meaning a slower connection…..using a coffeeshop is ok because they’re set up for many people to use their signal
DSL Feedback: Well, the pro is obviously free internet, but the most important thing that you need to consider is, what will you do if the coffee shop encrypts their wireless signal, making it only accessible to customers? You’ll be high and dry until you can get set up with DSL again, but for the money you’ll save, this is probably worth the risk.
Also, if you need high speeds for downloads or streaming, any signal below wireless N isn’t going to be quite as fast as a wired connection, but this doesn’t affect most users.
DSL Feedback: PROS:
1. Save money… (I can’t see another reason, but I guess its no surprise how MONEY can tip the scale in most occasions
CONS:
1. Neighbors signal:
a. moral dilemma (unless you neighbor says its O.K.)
b. not available all time (knock knock. who is there? I’m your neighbor! What do you want?! Can you please turn on your wireless Internet ON again I was waiting for this youtube video to load like forever!)
c. signal strength and bandwidth issue
2. no comfort of using Internet inside your home